Thermoplastic rubber

Abstract

PRISM Thermoplastic Rubber (PTR) is a novel, composite rubber material technology principally compounded from EOL, ambient ground, whole tires through the management of a unique process governed by the application of advanced, quantum field physics. The value from this technology is to provide a virgin-material-analog that may be readily integrated at high ratio, into new tire construction using conventional tire chemistry and manufacturing techniques resulting in a sustainable and significant, positive cost-benefit ratio as compared to current tire manufacturing economics.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A polymeric matrix comprising a polyaromatic hydrocarbon and a crosslinked network of an elastomer and at least one complementary polymer, wherein the complementary polymer is chemically bonded to the polyaromatic hydrocarbon such that a bond is formed between the complementary polymer and the polyaromatic hydrocarbon, whereby the polymeric matrix sequesters the polyaromatic hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         10 . The polymeric matrix of  claim 9 , comprising a thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
         11 . The polymeric matrix of  claim 9 , comprising a thermoplastic rubber. 
     
     
         12 . The polymeric matrix of  claim 9 , wherein the elastomer is rubber. 
     
     
         13 . The polymeric matrix of  claim 12 , wherein the rubber is vulcanized rubber. 
     
     
         14 . The polymeric matrix of  claim 9 , wherein the polymeric matrix encapsulates particles. 
     
     
         15 . The polymeric matrix of  claim 14 , wherein the particles are carbon black particles. 
     
     
         16 . The polymeric matrix of  claim 14 , wherein the particles are graphene particles. 
     
     
         17 . The polymeric matrix of  claim 14 , wherein the particles are selected from the group consisting of carbon black particles, graphene particles, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The polymeric matrix of  claim 9 , in a form of a plurality of laminated sheets, wherein each of the laminated sheets has a thickness of from 10 to 70 microns, and wherein each of the sheets is oriented 30 to 45 degrees to an anisotropic grain of an adjacent one of the plurality of laminated sheets. 
     
     
         19 . The polymeric matrix of  claim 9 , in a form of an article selected from the group consisting of tire tread, tire sidewall, roofing membrane, high dielectric electrical tape, tank lining, reservoir lining, trench lining, bridge underlayment, wire harness wrap, self-bonding wire harness wrap, shoe soles, rubber boots, electrical tape, foundation waterproofing, parking garage waterproofing, hose, belt, and molding.) 
     
     
         20 . The polymeric matrix of  claim 9 , in a form of a radiation shielding material. 
     
     
         21 . The polymeric matrix of  claim 9 , in a form of paving material. 
     
     
         22 . The polymeric matrix of  claim 9 , in a form of a suspension in asphalt. 
     
     
         23 . The polymeric matrix of  claim 9 , in a form of a sheet. 
     
     
         24 . The polymeric matrix of  claim 23 , wherein the sheet has an anisotropy in length tensile strength to width tensile strength, and wherein the anisotropy in length tensile strength to width tensile strength is at least 1.1:1. 
     
     
         25 . The polymeric matrix of  claim 9 , wherein the complementary polymer comprises a compound or composition selected from the group consisting of virgin natural rubber, styrene butadiene/butadiene rubber, a hydroxyl-containing polymer, a vegetable oil, a soybean oil, a castor oil, a linseed oil, a sunflower oil, a hydrogenated soy oil, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         26 . The polymeric matrix of  claim 9 , wherein the elastomer and the complementary polymer have different backbone chemistries. 
     
     
         27 . The polymeric matrix of  claim 9 , wherein the polymeric matrix has an effective particle size of less than five microns.